Reviews

The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell

skylabeouf's review against another edition

adventurous tense

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

loveinkind's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

marc_le's review against another edition

Didn't realize it was the 8th book....

stormlightreader's review against another edition

4.5

The Empty Throne is among my favourites of the series so far. I really enjoyed the prologue

from the POV of Uhtred's son

. Uhtred and his son are such a good pairing, although there is an alarming number of Uhtred's mentioned in this book ("

My name is Uhtred. I am the son of Uhtred, who was the son of Uhtred, and his father was also called Uhtred.

") 😂 There were some really great moments in The Empty Throne. Getting to know Stiorra was one of my favourite parts of this book! She is such a badass! Uthred's children coming more into focus and their personalities showing through is great to see. I do like Uhtred in the books but I prefer the show version of Uhtred. Book Uhtred has some qualities that I'm not a huge fan of. Also, Æthelflaed. I do love her and her becoming queen (thanks to Uhtred) was a great moment. She deserves it. The book also has some funny moments (

Uhtred confessing his sins

🤣 and

Æthelstan basically tripped and fell into Finan's shield wall

😂 excellent!

Things to remember:

• Stiorra marries Sigtryggr

mjporterauthor's review against another edition

4.0

So, really, it might deserve a five, and would maybe have got a five but something happened during the novel that really annoyed me because it was just one silly word that didn't fit with the time period and that's annoying. Surely someone must have said, 'really, you want to use that word?' but clearly not.
That said I'm very pleased that the author opted for the same site that I chose for Brunanburh and whilst I'm annoyed by the formulaic nature of the book - he doesn't win, and then he does win and oh, then he doesn't win again and how will he ever win again, and the whole withholding of information so that it looks like Uhtred is touched by his Pagan Gods, it was an enjoyable book that I read over a weekend and that gave me some much needed respite from a project I was working on.
Will I read the next book? I always so no, but eventually I do come back to the series and if it wasn't for Bernard Cornwell, and his tendency to annoy me, I'd never had tried my hand at historical fiction. So grudging respect, and next time, don't use terminology that's totally wrong!

rosiev425's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

viviennemorgain's review against another edition

5.0

Great, as always.

basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review

adventurous dark informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved that this one went to Wales and we got to meet Hywel, the welsh Alfred. Also Sigtryggr is probably my favorite Norse enemy of the Saxon kingdoms since Ragnar.

nina21's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

koorte's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0